Pennsylvania Makes It Illegal to Leave Dogs Out in the Cold

There's nothing we love more than snuggling up with our dogs and keeping them safe and warm during the cold winter months. That's why we're happy to hear that lawmakers are finally doing more to protect every dog out there and make sure all fur babies stay safe when the weather outside gets extra frightful.

A new law in Pennsylvania aiming to keep dogs safe in cold weather states that you could end up behind bars or paying a hefty fine if you leave your dog outside in freezing temperatures without adequate shelter for more than 30 minutes. In some cases, this could mean fines ranging from $50 to $750 and jail time for 90 days, but in other, more serious cases, the dog owner could potentially receive a $15,000 fine and seven years in prison. Citizens have been instructed to contact their county humane officer immediately if they see a dog being treated this way in the cold weather.

Jennifer Vanderau, communications director for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, also instructed dog-owning citizens to be mindful of any outdoor dog shelter they use for their pups, especially as the temperatures drop.

“Your doghouse that you have should keep them dry. If it rains and that freezes, that’s awful," Vanderau said. "Please make sure that they can get out of the elements and they can get into the dog house and not actually be rained on. Have it raised off the ground if you can."

We're so happy to hear that people in power are taking dogs' safety so seriously! We all know and love our pooches as part of the family, so let's start treating them like that.

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